Bike Light – Bicycles Network Australiahttp://www.bicycles.net.au
The Top Australian Cycling PortalMon, 25 Sep 2017 20:27:15 +0000en-UShourly1Innovative Blaze Burner Bike Light Tops Kickstarter Goalhttp://www.bicycles.net.au/2015/12/innovative-blaze-burner-bike-light-tops-kickstarter-goal/
Wed, 16 Dec 2015 22:57:43 +0000http://www.bicycles.net.au/?p=14629Following the success of the Blaze Laser Light, the newest design from UK designer Emily Brooke is the rear bike light called the Burner which has already captured the interest of cyclists globally. Again the Kickstarter crowd-funding platform has been used to launch the Burner rear bike light and this campaign is now in its final […]]]>

Following the success of the Blaze Laser Light, the newest design from UK designer Emily Brooke is the rear bike light called the Burner which has already captured the interest of cyclists globally. Again the Kickstarter crowd-funding platform has been used to launch the Burner rear bike light and this campaign is now in its final days, already topping the £35,000 funding goal four times over.

Blaze are providing a special deal for BNA readers who are keen to pre-order the £39 Blaze Burner. After ordering your Burner via Kickstarter, you can sign up for the Free Blaze T-shirt (valued at £20) here.

Following our review of the Blaze Laser Light, I am anticipating the Burner to also be a premium quality bike light. It comes with two two notable features, a light sensor which turns it on when the light is low and a robust magnetic mounting attachment which is an innovative solution. Most bike lights need to be taken off the bike for recharging which either means you have an extra steps ‘un-mounting’ or leads to wear-and-tear over time for the convenient silicon strap style mounts.

Pre-rders for the Blaze Burner close in two days so take a look. If this is a light for you, don’t forget the BNA deal to register for your free T-Shirt. View the Blaze Burner on Kickstarter.

]]>The Blaze Bike Laser Light – how did it fare?http://www.bicycles.net.au/2015/10/the-blaze-bike-laser-light-how-did-it-fare/
http://www.bicycles.net.au/2015/10/the-blaze-bike-laser-light-how-did-it-fare/#commentsFri, 16 Oct 2015 01:54:35 +0000http://www.bicycles.net.au/?p=14195In July we introduced the Blazing Amazing Bike Laser Light and investigated and answered questions on the legality. There are strict import restrictions on lasers, however the Blaze bike light has been cleared so there a no problems there. It is now time to revisit the light share some video for you to get a first-hand look. To recap, […]]]>

In July we introduced the Blazing Amazing Bike Laser Light and investigated and answered questions on the legality. There are strict import restrictions on lasers, however the Blaze bike light has been cleared so there a no problems there. It is now time to revisit the light share some video for you to get a first-hand look.

To recap, for those who came in late, the Blaze bike light has an integrated laser which projects a symbol of a bike on the road or path ahead. It’s a very beautifully designed and manufactured light which screams premium… including £125 price tag, which is about $270 Australian (incl. shipping).

If you go by the comments I received from other riders, the Blaze is “awesome” and “unbelievable”. There was genuine curiosity in the tech, and other bike riders on the road noticed. But did the cars notice? Lets get to that in a moment. First is a video which shows a closer look at the Blaze.

I’m not the world’s fastest bike rider, but I am certainly too fast for the Blaze. The problem I faced riding a road bike or commuter bike is that at the speeds I was travelling, the road and path vibrations scrambled the laser projection so that it wasn’t clear, essentially rendering it ineffective. This doesn’t mean it’s useless, rather means that if you are a speedy bike rider then you won’t benefit from the effect of the laser projected bike symbol. The type of bike rider who will benefit is a relaxed urban rider; the slower speeds, heavier bike, and lower tyre pressure will dampen the road vibration and project the laser symbol as you expect. This is a premium light with a big style factor so will likely be suited to a style and fashion conscious bike rider.

While we’re talking about issues with the light, the mounting system is slightly fiddly to setup, but it works very well – after initial setup the light can be removed extremely quickly using the release mechanism and pocketed to avoid theft. This also makes recharging convenient.

The recharging cable is intuitive, but it’s also fiddly. Firstly, it relies on a magnetic connect and easily slips. Secondly, when connecting the cable, because the light doesn’t stand or rest easily on a flat base or flat side, I was conscious of avoiding the precious sand-blasted aluminium housing from being scratched when setting up to charge. It is probably quite durable though the Blaze really does handle like a product you want to look after.

The light intensity is 300 lumens for high and 100 lumens for low, as well as having a flashing light at 100 lumens. I tested the Blaze in pitch black conditions and, while I did adjust to the available power, more light would be nice. More light requires a bigger battery however, and so the Blaze, as it is, suits urban dwellers where streets are often lit. The light and laser combination worked well, but in daylight the visibility of the laser dwindles. The flashing light is good during daylight and when it darkens the laser then starts to become effective.

I found it easy to adjust the angle of the light and laser simply by rotating the light and mount slightly, to point the beam closer or further away. This is useful for adjusting in different traffic condition. Similarly, the mounted light also allows a bit of left and right rotation. The good news is that it doesn’t move about while riding, but you can simply ‘micro-adjust’ it easily by hand.

Blaze with hinged mount and rubber protection strip (a few thicknesses are supplied)

Interesting mounting solution, but it does work

For security, the blaze is easily and speedily removed

To turn the laser on, first the light needs to be turned on; the light can then be turned off so just the laser is visible, though as the light and laser work well together. The buttons were a little temperamental; was I not pressing them properly? Where did the flashing mode go? I know! When the light is not mounted, the laser and flashing mode are not available, that makes sense.

Regarding the run-time, the information from Blaze is ambiguous: “With both the laser and LED light in flashing mode on full brightness, the light should last at least 18h from fully charged. It lasts 32h as a low-intensity flashlight.” For a Blaze owner, I wouldn’t anticipate epic bike rides which would take the Blaze to its limits. This light will see you through a few bike rides and in between you’ll probably have it on the charger and ready to go.

The most important question of all – does it make you safer?
This may be a little anti-climatic, but I can’t answer this question. Other bike riders and pedestrians noticed when the vibrant green bicycle symbol appeared. So it is good if you are riding through pedestrian zones to encourage pedestrians move away (or will they be attracted to the light like moths?), but I can’t confidently say that I noticed any behavioural change from motorists and I used it quite a lot around intersections and other stretches of road where vehicles would overtake. Generally I try to avoid being a bike ninja, so I don’t wear black and I have a good rear bicycle light – it’s all about different ways of increasing visibility. I simply don’t know if the unique aspects of the Blaze add to that visibility with respect to drivers.

Even though I don’t know how much it influences or improves safety, I like the Blaze for its high quality and thoughtful design as well bringing new technology to the bike. For owners, the Blaze is more than just a bike light or laser, it’s a lifestyle. A lot of bike riders supported the Blaze (through their crowd funding) and Blaze founder Emily Brooke already has plans for more bike accessories which I am looking forward to.

]]>http://www.bicycles.net.au/2015/10/the-blaze-bike-laser-light-how-did-it-fare/feed/1Blazing Amazing – First Look Blaze Bike Laser Lighthttp://www.bicycles.net.au/2015/07/blazing-amazing-first-look-blaze-bike-laser-light/
http://www.bicycles.net.au/2015/07/blazing-amazing-first-look-blaze-bike-laser-light/#commentsMon, 20 Jul 2015 22:38:51 +0000http://www.bicycles.net.au/?p=13856It is no surprise that some of the most exciting cycling innovations are reaching us courtesy of crowd funding platforms such as Kickstarter and Indiegogo; if you have a cool idea and can convince the netizens (internet citizens) that you can deliver, you have good chances of getting funded. The Blaze “bike-lazer” fits in this category and […]]]>

It is no surprise that some of the most exciting cycling innovations are reaching us courtesy of crowd funding platforms such as Kickstarter and Indiegogo; if you have a cool idea and can convince the netizens (internet citizens) that you can deliver, you have good chances of getting funded. The Blaze “bike-lazer” fits in this category and since its successful funding via Kickstarter, founder Emily Brooke has attracted additional investment and is even planning her next wave of innovative bike products.

So what makes the Blaze laser light so special? You guessed it, the laser is the highlight feature, a green laser symbol of a bicycle is projected onto the ground in front of the bike rider. Emily suggests that 79% of collisions involving cyclists (in the UK) occur when vehicles maneuver (i.e. turn or merge) into them. Projecting the laser symbol ahead is said to increase the awareness of other drivers. Whether I can be convinced that this helps bicycle safety is yet to be determined… so this will first be revealed after reviewing.

But you would be mistaken for thinking that the laser alone is the whole story, the Blaze is beautifully designed and manufactured. The packaging and the unpacking experience reminds me of Apple products with the ’brand experience’ reaching beyond pure functionality. In your hand, the Blaze is reassuringly heavy (176 grams and 225 grams with the mount). The quality of the finish of the sandblasted aluminium casing and the attention to detail really set it apart most bike lights, this is a product with style… and you probably don’t want to scratch it.

The light has a unique mount which allows the light to be detached and also doubles as a safety mechanism. The laser can only be turned on when it is properly fastened to the mount so this ensures that the using the laser is only really practical while bicycling (and less appealing to idiots).

To charge, a USB cable magnetically attaches to the top, while there are nice colourful lights on the charging cable to indicate charging and charging complete, I found it fiddly and unrefined. The magnetic charging attachment had the tendency to move easily away from the designated charging area.

Operating the light is fairly intuitive, yes I saw the warning sticker for the laser, but there was no need to open the manual to discover that the light and the laser can be controlled independently and each have a steady and flashing mode. The laser projection of the bike is ‘corrected’ so that a properly proportioned bicycle symbol appears to lie ‘flat’ on the road. This would give the effect of creating your own personal bike lane, a splendid idea if you are in one of the states in Australia where the Government has started removing bike lanes.

Prior to a complete review, my key unanswered question surrounds the actual safety benefits of the laser. Does it actually increase my safety on the bike? As an example, when I cycle with brighter lights (dipped of course) other road users seem to be more aware of me and show more care. Will the laser also have the effect? Will motorists notice it and will they drive safely? Stay tuned for the full review, (follow BNA on twitter or ‘like’ us on facebook)

]]>http://www.bicycles.net.au/2015/07/blazing-amazing-first-look-blaze-bike-laser-light/feed/5Rethinking Visibility with DING – The Innovative Bike Lighthttp://www.bicycles.net.au/2015/06/rethinking-visibility-with-ding-the-innovative-bike-light/
http://www.bicycles.net.au/2015/06/rethinking-visibility-with-ding-the-innovative-bike-light/#commentsTue, 09 Jun 2015 23:12:26 +0000http://www.bicycles.net.au/?p=13688A cycling media colleague suggested I check out DING, a local bike product. It’s not a bell, as the name may suggest, rather an Australian designed bike light moving to the Kickstarter crowdfunding platform to become a reality. DING is the brainchild of Englishmen Des Burns and Jason Briggs. Des is calls Australia home and […]]]>

A cycling media colleague suggested I check out DING, a local bike product. It’s not a bell, as the name may suggest, rather an Australian designed bike light moving to the Kickstarter crowdfunding platform to become a reality. DING is the brainchild of Englishmen Des Burns and Jason Briggs. Des is calls Australia home and has extensive experience in the automotive industry, specifically with LED lighting design and manufacture, so the pathway to bike lighting was well lit.

The famous ‘thinker’ Edward de Bono coined the term ‘lateral thinking’ to describe approaches to solve problems which are not vertical. Rather than using an analytical approach to achieve a logical solution, ‘out of the box’ thinking can open up completely new ideas, and the DING light fits this mould; it takes a new approach to bike lighting and rider safety.

CAD rendering of the DING bike light

DING differentiates itself by providing a deliberately downward angled light, illuminating the space around the cyclist to provide a bigger visual footprint for other road users. I put Des under the spotlight and challenged him explain the solutions the DING bike light provides.

Christopher Jones: With the downward beam, what is the actual ‘problem’ being solved?

Des Burns: The downward beam optical design provides a bar of light across the front of the bike. This bar of light does a couple of key things; it is easy for motorist to see and provides a mental acknowledgement to give more room to the rider. We completed road tests with and without the DING with both male and female riders. Our results showed that the downward beam certainly provided more road respect from motorist, with less encroaching on the bike lane resulting in [the motorist] giving more space.

The downward beam expedites a driver’s responsiveness of the presence of a cyclist; the downward beam also shows the susceptibility of a cyclist. Making drivers more conscious of cyclists’ potential movements, as well as priming their own likely evasive/protective reactions in relation to cyclists, is a key benefit of the DING bike light.

We then decide to actually to conduct a motorist feedback study. We carried out a couple of feedback studies from motorists over a 4 month period; the feedback from the motorist that did take part showed that 94% of our test motorist thought the DING bike light made them more aware of the cyclist, it made them also provide the rider with more room. The motorist could judge the riders speed and direction better than traditional bike lights. A key feedback comment was it is so different to what they usually see on the road and it made them more aware of the rider. It was also recorded that, for larger vehicles like trucks and buses where the driver sits up higher, they could distinguish the DING rider very clearly in comparison to traditional bike lights. In slow moving traffic, motorist were also less likely to encroach on the riders space and the required safe zone of one 1.5 metres

A recurring feedback statement was most of the motorists liked the fact the front wheel reflectors, which are standard safety gear on all bikes, shine bright due to the downward beam.

Another key feature is the improvement of light adaption times for the rider. The human eye takes time to switch from light to dark conditions; when you have more light around you the light adaption conditions are improved. With DING having this wide spread of even ground light, it provides the rider with better mesopic vision and thus will cause less fatigue on the eyes when riding at night. In fact, when we switch back to a traditional light during the trials it was so noticeable how much better the DING light was to ride with, you really miss the extra floor flood light.

The DING has an additional downward beam projecting to the sides.

Christopher Jones: How does the downward light compare with other accessories which increase rider visibility, such as hi-vis clothing or laser lights?

All riders should wear some sort of high visibility gear, I do. However, from our survey of riders in Adelaide CBD about 95% do not, which is a big shame. High visibility gear is not doubt great but it still does not provide a visual mark out point like the downward beam on the DING does, to say to the motorist this is my space. Laser lights are new to market and I must say I am all in favour of any new technology that makes riders more visible.

We did buy one to review against DING. The laser projects a bike symbol about 5 metres in front which is easy for the rider to see but not so for the motorist due to the small light surface area used for the symbol. The unit also has a LED Front light and, with a motorist passing the rider at speed, it was hard to pick up the image due to the forward glare of the front light. It was also difficult to see the laser image during heavy rain conditions . I found it hard to refrain from staring at the image in front of me as any slight moving of the handlebars joggled the laser image. This makes me think a laser is more of a distraction than a high visibility device for rider safety.

Christopher Jones: The DING website quotes “2/3 of bike accident are caused by cars turning”. Is this statistic for night-time riding? Are you suggesting that the lights would eliminate 2/3 of collisions?

Des Burns: No, that was for all conditions, day and night. This demonstrated that some drivers, when distracted, would be blind to the rider completely. At night, the mind distraction is even worse. The DING light will help you to be seen in wet weather conditions as the volume of the light is greater then any other light on the market.

At the end of the day, bike lights are critical to rider safety. The DING bike light provides a great forward light with the addition of a downward light source in small package. The DING is positioned at a price point below current traditional lights at the same performance level which just point forwards.

We are not charging any extra for our additional lighting innovation as the laser light systems do, we just want to make a safer bike light available for all bike riders at a fair price.

A new idea is born… on a beer mat

Christopher Jones: The light patterns projected on the road appear forward and to the sides, can you discuss the rationale for two separate light areas as opposed to ‘connecting’ (or overlapping) the downward facing beam with the front beam?

Des Burns: We wanted the forward beam to stand up on its own merits without the innovation of the downward beam; DING is a great light just with the two forward optics alone. Too many bikes lights in market offer pencil spot beam designs. The reason I believe for this is, one, you can get more distance by collimating the lower lumen output diode into a focus spot when using a tight parabola which in turn will give you a better lux reading for distance. Secondly, you can use less powerful LED diodes, which are cheaper, giving lower cost overall to the driver electronics and you get better battery run time figures.

Some better bike lights do provide a combination of spot beam with a territory spill of additional fill light, these are much better than just the pencil spot beams.

A better solution, we believe, is to produce a faceted optic and lens design that pushes light forward evenly in all areas with a small addition of focused spot to light up further away targets, just like car headlights.

The question of overlapping is very valid. The prototype optics we have used are not to full design intent. We plan to include a second optic on the top of the front lens to push that light back down the ground to improve the two beam overlap and reduce forward glare. Our photometric ray tracing has shown it will work. The CNC machined prototype lenses we made are not advanced enough to show this just yet.

The DING light has a holster and an original mounting system

Christopher Jones: You have chosen to mount the light below the handlebars, why did you make this decision?

Des Burns: At one stage, our handlebar clamp design allowed either top or bottom of bar mounting of the light. We dropped the top mount option for a couple of reasons; the downward beam projection is better when the light is mounted under the handlebar. The market is full of top bar mounted lights, but there is a shortage of good below handle bar mounted lights. Road bike riders would prefer to mount a light underside or even under the central stem. The new DING mount has been designed to mount directly under a road bike stem.

Inside the holster, this shows the lense for the downward beam

Christopher Jones: The holster strap / fasting mechanism is original, and appears to be secure. Can you discuss the reason for creating this mounting solution with a holster, rather than copying an existing mount or integrating a mount directly onto the light.

Des Burns: We initially had a larger holster design with a selection of C-bar clamp rings to attach the light and received very positive feedback on the light design from bike shops and the industry. The only criticism that we did get back was for our mount design, so went away and redesigned the mount completely. When reviewing the new mount design, we were tempted to attach the mount to the light body. However, we thought our quick holster was a good idea. I personally like to get to my bike and just snap it into the holster; it is quick and easy, especially when it is dark. It is more costly, as there are more parts, but when we are funded and create other light design ideas, we will be able to use the holster clamp in the future.

Colours prototype DING lights

Christopher Jones: Bicycles Networks Australia recommends that cyclists point their high-powered lights down to avoid blinding oncoming vehicles or cyclists. What options do cyclists have to use their DING courteously on the roads?

Des Burns: The light is easy to position so as not to provide forward glare and dazzle motorists. In addition, our forward optics include facets to cut off top half stray light and push that down towards the ground. Plus with our beam having a more filled light pattern, we do not get road glare bounce back like you do with a focused spot beam bike light when you focus it more downwards.

Christopher Jones: Where does the name DING come from? My first thoughts were that it was a Chinese brand or suggested a bicycle bell.

Des Burns: It is a long story; as I was developing the light I also had issues with room for stuff on my handle bar and thought “why not have a light and a traditional bell combination?” The Swiss army knife of bike lights, so to speak. I went down this track for nearly 6 months. The two beams were in the concept ideas from the beginning and the bell inclusion idea was just a secondary idea.

Michael, Kushari, Des and Kyra are the DING team in Australia

Want to know more ?

DING is on Kickstarter and are halfway to their fundraising goal of $80,000, which will get the light into production.

There are also more details and data on the main website: dinglights.com.au

Photos provided by DING and used with permission

]]>http://www.bicycles.net.au/2015/06/rethinking-visibility-with-ding-the-innovative-bike-light/feed/3Review: How cool is the TwoWheelCool Pilot Light?http://www.bicycles.net.au/2015/03/review-how-cool-is-the-twowheelcool-pilot-light/
http://www.bicycles.net.au/2015/03/review-how-cool-is-the-twowheelcool-pilot-light/#commentsMon, 30 Mar 2015 22:15:00 +0000http://www.bicycles.net.au/?p=13427Sydney based industrial designer Bruce Hanlee launched TwoWheelCool (TWC) in 2012 with his first cycling accessory called airhead, a spikey looking silicon liner for your helmet to give you more ‘air in your hair’, or rather to eliminate helmet hair. Spurred on by local importer Eureka (who also look after Nutcase helmets), TwoWheelCool have been […]]]>

Sydney based industrial designer Bruce Hanlee launched TwoWheelCool (TWC) in 2012 with his first cycling accessory called airhead, a spikey looking silicon liner for your helmet to give you more ‘air in your hair’, or rather to eliminate helmet hair. Spurred on by local importer Eureka (who also look after Nutcase helmets), TwoWheelCool have been expanding its lineup of bike accessories, such as the TWC silicon toecaps, and now reaches an international market.

When I heard the announcement and saw the first pictures of their new bike light, I was excited because their helmet mounted light looked, quite simply, perfect. For many years I commuted by bike with an old style cateye red flasher attached to the helmet. These were a real DIY solution as I had to resort to cable-ties because the ‘clip’ mounts always broke, and when corrosion became an issue I would try to waterproof with silicon and superglue to keep the rudimentary lights in action.

The DIY lights served a practical purpose; mounted high on my helmet, I felt that they made me more noticeable on the roads and they were convenient because they were attached to my helmet and there is less change of having my bike lights stolen (I tend to take my helmet with me).

The TWC Pilot Light in detail

At first glance, the Pilot Light is a clever solution; quite flat so that it is unobtrusive on the helmet, it is flexible so it can suit different helmet forms, plus it also includes a front light – brilliant.

The Pilot Light is USB chargeable. This seems to be the standard with electonic bike accessories. I have resorted to running an external USB hub from my computer to charge all of the devices. The USB port on the light is behind a hidden flap which gives it secure ‘water resistant’ protection. I had a few damp rides (but escaped tropical downpours) and can’t report any problems with water entering the unit.

To mount the light, two long, thin velcro straps are provided. Passing through the light, the straps feed through air vents in your helmet and, through the power of velcro, it is quite easy to setup. You may need to temporarily remove helmet padding and, while the light is easy to remove, it is convenient to leave it on the helmet permanently. Excess velcro can be trimmed, though if you are sharing the light between different helmets, check the required velcro lengths first before trimming.

So far so good, but….. and it is a BIG BUT – the Pilot Light wont suit all helmets; some hardshell helmets don’t have vents, or don’t have vents which accommodate the velcro straps. Some helmets have bug nets and wont let the strap pass through. And some helmets have vents or a form which simply doesn’t work well with the Pilot Light.

For a lightweight Limar road cycling helmet I wear, I had to mount the light relatively far back. With my ‘bent over, head down’ road cycling riding position, the light was infact well positioned and angled while I rode. On a Kali MTB helmet which I use, bug nets also meant mounting further back and the air vent placement was not perfectly suited, but still worked reasonably. The light has a number of slots for the velcro which provides a little more flexibility.

Turning the light on and off is straight forward; the button is above the red lights at the thick end. Press down and hold to turn it on or off. A quick press cycles through the four modes:

It is best to turn on the light and chose the preferred setting before putting your helmet on; while riding the on/off/mode button is fiddly to locate and, to be certain that you have the required mode selected, it really is best to ‘see’ rather than rely on the dexterity of your digits.

This was an issue for me on early morning rides when it was still dark. I generally prefer a blinking front and back light, but when it is too dark, the flashing front light is extremely distraction, so a steady is better. I would begin my ride with the steady white light up front and the flashing red at the back. When there was enough light to be able to switch to a flashing front (without the ill effects of the strobe), I would have to stop safely, remove my helmet, select the flashing/flashing mode and then continue. While this will not be an issue for everyone, a two button approach (one for the front, one for the back) is a potential solution.

For interest, the flashing mode will give you a much longer run-time and, for busier riding locations, will give you a better chance of being noticed by other road users. The flip side is that with a flashing light it is harder for other road users to judge your speed and distance in comparison with a steady light.

The lights are bright at 40 lumens; they are definitely ‘to be seen’ rather that ‘to see’ and I was quite satisfied with the brightness. These are not suited (nor intended) for very dark riding conditions, but are an excellent secondary and backup light.

So how effective is the Pilot Light? This is a question I need to answer based on my perception. I found that vehicles on the road were generally more cautious when overtaking or waiting to pull out of side streets. This is the same effect as when I have bright bike lights (i.e. 1000 lumens, pointed down of course and not to dazzle). In dim or dark conditions, the Pilot Light was always used in addition to bike mounted lights and I used a variety up front and back. Vehicles become more cautious when they think a Christmas tree is approaching. Although, because I am riding in Sydney traffic, no matter how visible I am on a bicycle, there are always a few drivers who remain oblivious to safe driving.

The Two Wheel Dork

This is a cool light, it looks good and is functional. It is a great accessory for the super bike commuter. The super commuter is someone who knows the best bike routes into work, they know all about wet weather riding, and they chose their equipment for functionality. It means that bike commuters are, in a way, bike nerds. For bike nerds the Pilot Light is an excellent additional light.

But on the road bike, whether you are a weekend warrior or have competitive aspirations, bike accessories need to be compact, lightweight and aero. The Pilot Light ‘kind of’ looks aero, but it is still bulky enough that it will probably slow you down. And coming in at 52 grams on the scales, it will make a road rider feel as though they are shackled to the tarmac.

For a road cyclist, it is a little bit dorky and doesn’t satisfy the Official Euro Cyclist Code of Conduct.

Do you or don’t you?

The Pilot Light works well as a ‘to be seen’ bike light and for urban cyclists is conveniently positioned on the helmet for good visibility in traffic. Commuter and touring cyclists may want to consider the Pilot Light as a second light for increased visibility.

The TwoWheelCool Pilot Light retails for $39.95 and, while you will find it at some retailers, the TwoWheelCool online shop can fit you out with one in lots of colours; black, white, mint, fluro, orange, red and pink. [edit – broken hyperlink removed]

Omni wearable light
This is a review about the Pilot Light however the distributor, Eureka brands, also sell an Omni wearable light. The concept is that the Omni is a versatile light which you can put on your bike or a bag or around your arm or ankle while riding.

I didn’t warm up to this light however and I tried and failed to mount it on properly my bike; it always seemed dangle or hang precariously. Around my ankle it felt rigid and constricting. Perhaps it is a nice way to keep your trousers from flapping around, and there are riders out there for whom the omni is a perfect light, but it is not for me.

If it tickles your fancy, the Omni lights are currently on sale in Australia for $20, down from $39.95 [edit – hyperlink broken, sale no longer applicable]

]]>http://www.bicycles.net.au/2015/03/review-how-cool-is-the-twowheelcool-pilot-light/feed/3Review: Knog Blinder Arc 5.5 Road Cyclist Lighthttp://www.bicycles.net.au/2014/04/knog-blinder-arc-road-cyclist-bicycle-light-review/
http://www.bicycles.net.au/2014/04/knog-blinder-arc-road-cyclist-bicycle-light-review/#commentsTue, 15 Apr 2014 22:37:30 +0000http://www.bicycles.net.au/?p=10396When Knog released their highly anticipated high powered lights, us Aussies were enjoying long and warm days. Early morning starts on the bike were already bright and this made it hard for the Blinder Arc 5.5 to really shine through – pun intended. The Arc is a new generation of light from Knog designed to […]]]>

When Knog released their highly anticipated high powered lights, us Aussies were enjoying long and warm days. Early morning starts on the bike were already bright and this made it hard for the Blinder Arc 5.5 to really shine through – pun intended. The Arc is a new generation of light from Knog designed to let you see and not just be seen. Now that the cooler and darker months are coming to Australia, it is time to gear-up; the Arc light will appeal to both road cyclists and commuters.

High powered lights tend to run with external battery packs, but Knog have balanced weight, unit size, and light output to create the self-contained Arc 5.5. It fits really well on the road bike handlebars and doesn’t take up too much cockpit real-estate. It has a great look which will complement your high-tech race bike; the predominantly black coloured aluminium and rubber unit has the option for a black, blue, red, or silver “front” to colour match your bike.

The light is 10 centimeters in length and the front section, which houses the lens and CREE LED, is aluminium with ridges to dissipate heat. The rear half is silicon rubber and incorporates 1 switch on the top (on/off and light modes), a small LED to indicate the battery charge, a USB Plug, and, underneath, the mounting strap.

One simple button for on/off and toggling the light settings

The clasp with magnetic fastener and USB connect opened

The USB extension lead and mount for smaller diametre handlebars

Knog include a small USB extension lead to make it easy to connect and recharge the Lithium Ion battery; charging takes about 7 hours. There are four light modes: a long press turns the light on/off, and a short press scrolls through the light mods. The high beam is 550 lumens and provides about 1 hour 50 minutes run time. There is a medium and low beam plus a flashing mode, the latter will provide about 17 hours run time.

A quality Cree XM-L2 LED is the heart of the Blinder Arc 5.5

Two straps are provided to suite 25 – 30mm and 30 – 35mm diameter handlebars. My handlebar tapers from 32 – 35mm and I used the larger strap. In mounting the light, the Knog Blinder Arc wins points by improving on the clasp mechanism – Bicycles Network Australia previously reviewed the Blinder Road 2 and on a few occasions the clasp unbuckled when riding over big bumps and the light fell off. Both the Blinder Road 2 and the Arc lights now have a mount where the steel clasp has a magnet and, after hundreds of kilometers, I didn’t experience problems.

I do have to take a few marks off, however, due to movement of the light; on big bumps or rough surfaces I found the light slowly tilted down and I would have to adjust it back every so often. I spoke to Knog about this and they are updating the model with thicker silicon straps to resolve this. They also provide a fix: when mounting the light, it can be angled down 45 degrees and after the clasp is fastened, the light is angled up to the desired position. This helps prevent it from turning.

When the Arc 5.5 first arrived there were still plenty of sunlight hours each evening, which meant that I just used the Arc 5.5 as a flasher. It’s quite a bright flasher and other vehicles would show courtesy when I was approaching rather then dangerously stealing into my path.

Even with other devices mounted, such as a cycle computer or sport camera, the Blinder Arc uses the handlebar space well

To give the light a real test I planned a rare late night ride and, despite a full charge, the light died after 8 minutes! I had a good backup light and changed my route to well lit streets, but something was wrong. My review light was one of the first out of the factory and Knog identified a handful of lights with battery issues. They have since modified the production to eliminate this. Knog also sent out a new light quick-smart.

The high beam is where this light really comes together. Although any light is welcome in pitch black riding conditions, more light and better light allow you to ride at the speed you want with confidence. The Arc 5.5 is a warm light with a nice even spread of light. Many other lights have a pronounced hot spot and cast a very ‘sterile’ light which makes it harder to visualise contours in the road surface.

While the photo barely does justice, the road surface is well lit and the spread of light is balanced

The Arc felt more natural and the spread of light showed you what you need to see. In comparison with other lights that have a brighter hot spot, it doesn’t shine as far into the distance, although this was certainly not a deficit in my view. That said, for fast downhills at night you will certainly err on the side of caution or go for a much bigger lighting rig. As you would expect, the light is completely waterproof (IP68) and a side effect of the silicon rubber is that it attracts dust, but it can be easily washed clean.

The Blinder Arc 5.5 bicycle light retails for $129.95 and faces a bit of competition from other lights with the same light output at a lower cost. The advantages that the Knog provides is a good product lifetime, great customer service if there are issues, day to day convenience, a good light beam, and of course, style.

For more on the Blinder Arc 5.5, visit knog.com.au.

]]>http://www.bicycles.net.au/2014/04/knog-blinder-arc-road-cyclist-bicycle-light-review/feed/5Budget Bike Light Review: SingFire SF-539 1000 Lumenhttp://www.bicycles.net.au/2013/09/budget-bike-light-review-singfire-sf-539-1000-lumen/
http://www.bicycles.net.au/2013/09/budget-bike-light-review-singfire-sf-539-1000-lumen/#commentsWed, 11 Sep 2013 01:53:19 +0000http://www.bicycles.net.au/?p=9024Having your only source of light on an unlit country road go missing in action is not an experience I personally cherish. My trusty old light had become another victim of the roads I ride. It seems the rough roads had shaken the connections inside loose because every time I hit a decent bump in […]]]>

Having your only source of light on an unlit country road go missing in action is not an experience I personally cherish. My trusty old light had become another victim of the roads I ride. It seems the rough roads had shaken the connections inside loose because every time I hit a decent bump in the road, the light intensity would go from high to non-existent.

I am a commuter, plain and simple. I am constantly being told that I am mad and crazy for the roads I ride and for the fact that I ride in all sorts of weather. However, I feel that I am lucky enough to be in a position which allows me to ride to and from work and on average I ride between 400 and 500 kilometers a week, and this on a combination of country and city roads. I need a good light.

I was in the process of sourcing another light when the good people at Bicycles Network Australia (BNA) promoted the chance to win a SingFire SF-539 1000 lumen bike light to test. Obviously the blurb I wrote about how I would test the light, and the reasons why I should be the one to test it, won the people over at BNA since here I am writing about the light.

I had never heard of the SingFire brand or company before, so a little bit of googling to try and find more about them and what they offered led me to the Shenzhen SingPad Technology Company Ltd. page on Alibaba. The actual company website seemed to be advertising gambling (perhaps a placeholder website?), but the company specialises in aluminium LED lights.

The SingFire SF-539 that I received came in a nice box and on first sight looked a quality product. An initial inspection of each item did however cause me to dampen my enthusiasm a little. The battery pack is not a sealed unit and has exposed cardboard looking ends. Given that I ride in the rain, I immediately thought this battery pack is not going to last the distance if I keep using it without protecting it in some way.

A cardboard battery threatened to put a dampener on my commuting plans

The oldest trick in the book, a plastic bag to protect the battery from water

The next source of my unhappiness was in relation to the power adapter charger for the battery. The power adapter is not designed for Australian power points as it has a 2 flat pin head and not the 3 flat pin head used here. I looked at getting a conversion adapter head for the charger but the cheapest that I could source came in around the $40 mark, roughly the same price as what the light itself is being marketed for. The solution that I found and ended up using was that of a Toshiba laptop power adapter, which fitted perfectly with regards the connection point on the battery pack. The thing that I had to be mindful about here was that my “adapter solution” was compatible with regards to the amps/wattage of the original charger, so that I didn’t damage either the fuses at home or the battery pack itself.

The mounting and securing of the light itself is done via an O-ring; the box set comes with two, a small and a large. The small would likely only be used for a helmet connection, it’s too small for handlebar mounting. As mentioned earlier, I ride pretty rough roads, but in the time that I have been using it the light has not moved once using the large O-ring, and the light beam has always pointed to where I have set it to be. Securing the battery pack is done via a simple Velcro strap.

Solid O-Ring mounting

The battery pack mounted below the stem

As an easy to use helmet mounted light, the whole system fails badly I believe. The “headlamp” mount is not designed to easily mount to a helmet. The straps that come with the headlamp mount need to be cut off first, then a secondary solution to fix the mount to the helmet must be found. Cable ties would meet this need easily, but would prevent quick detachment of the mount when not using the light itself. I also found that the length of cable between battery pack and the light is nowhere near long enough to allow the battery pack to be easily carried, as in a back pocket of a cycling jersey. Yes, you could use a backpack to overcome this, but should you really need to have a backpack simply so you can have a helmet mounted light? These facts alone prevented me from even attempting to use the light as a helmet mounted solution.

Actual use of the light is very easy. It has a single silicon button which turns the light on and off and allows you to switch between the different modes. The button is lit at all times, even when not switched on, so in complete darkness you are not struggling to find the button. The modes are High (100%), Low (20%), Strobe and off. The product blurb about run time states that the light will run in high mode for 3-4 hours. I purposely ran the light on high for an entire morning and afternoon commute and found that what they are stating is pretty spot on. The light was still providing plenty of light by the time I got home in the evening after 4 hours of riding.

I did find that when the battery power gets really low, the projected light beam dimmed quite dramatically. I wondered what was going on when this happened the first time, and when I looked at the silicon button I found that its colur had changed from blue to a light red. As the battery power dropped, the intensity of the red lighting increased. On high, it took the light nearly 50 minutes before it was dead.

The low beam of the SingFire SF 539

The high beam of the SingFire SF 539

Whilst on the battery pack I must mention the connector between the battery pack cable and the light cable. Wow, is it good! It has a great seal and there will never be an issue with rain getting into it. However, trying to get it apart with dry fingers, let alone wet fingers, is a challenge. I found myself disconnecting the cables by pulling on the actual cables, as the plug ends simply don’t allow for a good grip to pull them apart. It’s a small thing, I know, but over time I would be worried about stretching or even pulling out the wire cables from the connectors.

I didn’t find out about a key feature of the light until after a week or so of use. The “manual”, if you want to call it that, simply states: “Focus adjustable design” and nothing else. The red band on the SingFire is not just simply there for its looks, but it is used for adjusting the sharpness/focal point of the light. The sharpest focal point of the light has the beam in the shape of a diamond and I found this to be a clear white light, and very mesmerizing. The other end of the spectrum has the beam very wide but the intensity of the projected beam is very watered down, and in pitch darkness not very useful. I think it is just a matter of fine tuning the beam until you find the sweet spot that suits you personally.

“Focus adjustable design” creates a bright diamond when the beam is focussed

Since getting this light and using it for a couple of weeks, I have come to actually like it. Finding the “focus adjustable design” feature made this light very usable. The light is very easy to setup or remove and has a small footprint on the handlebar. The battery has more than enough life in it for a very long early morning ride or a couple of commutes. Visually, it isn’t too bad on the eye and the quality of design and production is up there; it certainly doesn’t look the price that it is currently being marketed for.

The SingFire after some commuter cycling action

The negative points about the SingFire SF-539 1000lm bike light are that the battery pack isn’t 100% waterproof and the power adapter, the one I received anyway, isn’t designed for the Australian market. The other small issues I found with the light I think most people can live with. If the SingFire company can overcome these two points, I think they would have a winner on their hands.

I can recommend this light to cycle commuters after a budget priced reliable light and who can turn a blind-eye to some of the deficits.

]]>http://www.bicycles.net.au/2013/09/budget-bike-light-review-singfire-sf-539-1000-lumen/feed/10Review: Taking the Magicshine MJ-808E Bike Light Off-Roadhttp://www.bicycles.net.au/2013/06/magicshine-mj-808e-bike-light-australian-night-mtb/
http://www.bicycles.net.au/2013/06/magicshine-mj-808e-bike-light-australian-night-mtb/#commentsTue, 18 Jun 2013 01:17:45 +0000http://www.bicycles.net.au/?p=8412Some cyclists believe that too much light is never enough and, as the weakest species on Aussie roads, this seems like a logical conclusion. Light power alone, however, will not increase your safety; the bright light and the super bright light are both bright, and while a brighter light will let you see more, the […]]]>

Some cyclists believe that too much light is never enough and, as the weakest species on Aussie roads, this seems like a logical conclusion. Light power alone, however, will not increase your safety; the bright light and the super bright light are both bright, and while a brighter light will let you see more, the flip-side is that it can also dazzle other road users, including oncoming cyclists. With the amount of light available in this review, we are definitely going off-road.

It is a sign that winter is in full swing when the number of bicycle light reviews on BNA increases. In this review we’re looking at Magicshine, a brand that already has some traction in Australia and now has an official distributor: Giro Australia. They have placed two lights, a total of 3000 lumens, in my hands and I took them where I needed them most, off-road mountain biking.

In this article, I’ll look at the “smaller” of the two lights, the 1000 Lumen Magicshine MJ-808E with the CREE XM-L Light Emitting Diode. CREE have earned a solid reputation for quality and are simply the brand of choice for high powered LEDs, so this ticks the right box. Magicshine have a 900 Lumen light which is virtually identical, though uses a different LED and is called the MJ-808 (without the trailing ‘E”).

The MJ-808E is a worthy on-road handlebar mounted light with a push button on the back and 3 light modes; high, low and flashing. Where it really shines however is as a helmet mounted light in combination with the handle-bar mounted 2000 Lumen MJ-880 light for offroad riding. The beam is comparatively narrow with a defined hotspot and serves the purpose of spotting obstacles and reaching far ahead, behind and exactly there where you need more light.

On looks alone it is hard to distinguish the MJ-808E from other generic brand bike lights coming out of Asia. In operation, the battery power-level is indicated by the silicon on/off/mode button which changes colour. Green is good , it indicates over 75% power remaining. The first time I spotted it changing from green to blue on a ride I panicked, thinking that he battery would shortly be drained, however blue is still good indicating 50-75% battery power remaining. Yellow indicates 50-30% and is probably time to turn around and head back home or consider changing to low beam. Red is closer to panic mode and means you have 30-5% power left, but the time to really freak out is when the red button starts to blink, it means less that 5% and pretty soon you will be in the dark.

During my rides I enjoyed trying the different modes, changing the beam strength, but I only managed to run the light down to the yellow light indicating less that 50% battery power. This suggests that the quoted 3 hours run-time on the brightest setting is pretty much on the mark.

A number of features set the MJ-808E apart from generic lights. Firstly, the iPX4 waterproofing means you never have to give it a second thought, even in torrential rain. Secondly, the battery pack is a completely sealed unit that can be easily mounted in various positions on the bike frame and has rubberised bands around the battery unit that save your frame from being scratched. Thirdly, it uses an O-ring mount and, while that isn’t revolutionary, the light stayed-put. Even while riding technical trails and bouncing all over the place, the light didn’t dip or move as I have experienced with other lights or handlebar mounted products. Finally, the circuitry includes overheating protection, which good for peace of mind. While riding I found that the light generally gets good airflow and, while it gets hot, it doesn’t boil.

I do have some criticisms of the product, specifically when using this light as a helmet mounted light. Elastic head mounted accessories are available from Magicshine though, unless you have a hard-shell type helmet, you will probably need to DIY and cut off the plastic mount from the elastic straps and then cable-tie it to your helmet. This creates a semi-permanent mount and, depending on whether your helmet accommodates the mount, is generally not very elegant. I don’t mind the DIY, but I feel like a dork riding around during the day with a black thing attached to my helmet.

When running a helmet light, I prefer not to have the battery mounted directly on the helmet and this battery doesn’t lend itself to being helmet mounted anyway. I found that it was also a bit awkward fastening the battery inside a hydration backpack using the rubber straps that otherwise work so well for mounting the battery directly the bike. The short cable-length means that you have to somehow have the battery fixed tight somewhere near the top of your backpack or get an additional cable extension which is available as an accessory.

On the road, the MJ-808E is a competent high powered light – it will let you see well, though, while sharing the road with traffic, I suggest that it is angled so that it aides you without blinding others. The high-powered flashing mode is a bit useless though is potentially useful as a safety beacon.

The MJ-808E is under-powered for use as a sole light for serious night mountain biking in Australian conditions. You can certainly try it though at the cost of confidence and speed. When used as a helmet light for off-road mountain biking, it wonderfully complemented the Magicshine MJ-880 with its broader 2000 lumen light (coming up in my next review) which meant that I could right faster and with confidence. Because of the price-point, the duo are a very attractive lighting option for technical and competitive mountain biking.

The MJ-808E retails for $179 and is available at good bike shops and camping stores – get in contact with the importer Giro Australia for your nearest dealer.